Suspension, no pay for school head in CamSur bag torching

DIALOGUE Alexander James Jaucian, Bicol Central Academy administrator, faces parents during a dialogue in Libmanan, Camarines Sur.—MAYFLOR MARIE JUMAMIL

The administrator of Bicol Central Academy (BCA) in Camarines Sur province, who has been embroiled in controversy after an online post showed the burning of students’ schoolbags, has been ordered suspended without pay by the school’s board of trustees.

Aside from a 90-day suspension, Alexander James Jaucian was also ordered to apologize for his actions on Aug. 17 when he ordered the torching of the belongings of 15 Grade 11 students, who allegedly violated a “no-bag” order for a school activity.

Jaucian, reportedly a part-owner of the school in Libmanan, must also reimburse all the damaged items at his personal expense, the board said.

The board’s actions were disclosed by Jaucian in a written explanation that he sent to
the Department of Education (DepEd) regional office in Bicol.

‘Unorthodox’

In the letter, he admitted his participation in the incident, acknowledging that his methods of discipline were “unorthodox.”

But he said he did not have the bags burned “just for kicks.”

“It did not give me any pleasure seeing those things burned,” he said.

However, he slammed the video that was posted online by a BCA alumnus.

In the now viral video, a man—presumably Jaucian—was heard berating the students, calling them stupid.

The footage was “heavily edited” to focus on his outrage, Jaucian said, adding that it did not include the part where he commended some of the students who had the right bags with them and arrived on time.

“The earnest desire to instill discipline got the better of me,” he said.

The school board also ordered Jaucian to voluntarily submit himself to a “development program.”

Parents dismayed

The DepEd in Bicol said it was studying the revocation of BCA senior high school’s permit to operate.

Mayflor Jumamil, DepEd Bicol spokesperson, said the parents expressed dismay during a dialogue with school officials on Wednesday.

“[The parents said] that it (incident) was not acceptable and should not be tolerated and repeated,” Jumamil said.

Guidance counselors again asked the students to undergo stress debriefing after the dialogue.—REPORTS FROM JHESSET ENANO AND REY ANTHONY OSTRIA